Grace Goodhue complimented Calvin Coolidge. The shy, reserved Coolidge benefited from Goodhue’s warm disposition and vivaciousness. Although Coolidge made all the political decisions, his wife did her part by keeping up appearances and counterbalancing his shyness. As First Lady, Grace Coolidge followed his lead as a hostess creating an unassuming atmosphere, but left no discernable legacy of her own.
Calvin Coolidge met Grace Goodhue in 1903 and they married two years later. Coolidge was an unlikely politician earning the moniker “Silent Cal” for his shyness. In the early years of their marriage, he kept his wife out of politics as much as possible. As a result, she became a typical American housewife. However, Grace Coolidge did become involved in the Red Cross during World War I marking the only real departure from her domestic role until the twenties.
In 1920, Coolidge emerged as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. This drew media attention to the couple. They drew a stark comparison as Mrs. Coolidge proved more outgoing and warm than her husband. In every respect, their personalities complemented each other in private and in public. He continued to control her activities as they were swept into office.
After a couple of years as second lady, Grace Coolidge temporarily assumed first lady duties when Mrs. Harding suffered from a kidney ailment. The following year, she officially became First Lady of the United States following President Harding’s death and Calvin Coolidge's ascension. The Coolidges did not move into the White House immediately. They allowed Mrs. Harding time to grieve.
The new First Lady had little say in the new White House. The president made all the decisions regarding White House social functions and other issues generally reserved for the first lady. Mrs. Coolidge simply had to show up and be charming. Her humor proved an adrenaline rush for guests forced to suffer through the president’s dour personality.
Mrs. Coolidge’s role was strictly ceremonial with one exception. The couple became involved in the Clarke School for the Deaf and worked to raise funds for the charity. They raised $2 million by the end of Coolidge’s term. Other than that, Mrs. Coolidge did little work with the exception of ceremonial functions and the occasional hospital visit.
The president tried to keep his wife out of the spotlight. Despite this, there were a couple of major incidents involving the first lady. The social highlight of the Coolidge Administration occurred in 1927. Charles Lindbergh was the guest of honor at a White House gala following his transatlantic flight. That same year, Mrs. Coolidge and her secret service agent, Jim Haley, got lost in the Black Hills. An angry president fired the agent, but the first lady angrily defied her husband and maintained friendly relations with the Haley family.
President Coolidge was not used to his wife exercising some independence or expressing strong opinion nor did he seek her advice. In fact, he did not consult her about a re-election bid. He surprised everyone, including his wife, by not running in 1928. The decision came as a relief. Grace Coolidge worried about her husband’s health. In 1924, the couple lost their son to blood poisoning. Although she eventually recovered her vivaciousness, Mr. Coolidge never recovered.
After leaving office, the couple retired to Northampton, Massachusetts. He died of a heart attack four years later. His death proved devastating to her. After the funeral, the widow worked for the deaf and the Red Cross. During World War II, she led scrap drives for the war effort. Throughout her life, Grace Coolidge loved animals and kept them as companions. Also, she maintained her lifelong allegiance to the Boston Red Sox. In fact, she could throw a baseball better than most men. Grace Coolidge died in 1957.
Grace Coolidge allowed herself to be held back by her husband. Her own passivity made Grace Coolidge a footnote in history. Other than her efforts for the Clarke School for the Deaf, she left no imprint on the White House. Despite this, Mrs. Coolidge was a lively positive person who offset her husband’s personality deficits and charmed those that met her.
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